Skate



Aug. 27, 1940. w, H. DECKER SKATE Filed July 26, -1958 /I//LL/AM H. 05m/3e INVENTOR ATTORNEY to `provide a skate `with sufficiently large wheels p `Patented Aug. 27, 1940' i Y, v sIA'r 4William H; Decker, Shawnee, '()vklaf'A Application `-l'lllyJ-ZG,4 1938,'Se1'ial NOLZZLZSI ticularly to Atwowheeled skates, theftwo wheels of which are not in longitudinal alignment. -l

s The principal objects'of the invention aredto provide a noveltyskate which requires more than ordinaryskill, for its operation and `yet which has advantage-Sover ordinaryfsk'ates after sufficient skill/has been acquiredto use it properly;

thatthe balance `of the user` is not noticeably effected `when thewheels pass over small obsta-Y cles` or `irregularities in the surfaceovertwhich p A further object thefskate` is travelling, and yetwhioh elevatesr the user only very `slightly morethan do conventional skates; to provide a fslrate the lwheels of which may `beffltted `with either solid or pneu-l,

matic` rubber` tires without the difficulty= `in changing, repairing or `Yreplacing the tires which would be present if conventional skates were so equipped; to provide a two-wheeled slrate,v the foot supporting frame of which is so balanced between the forward and the rear wheel that it v is much easier to change the direction of travel of the skate than to do so with conventional wheeled skates.

of my invention is to provide a skate which not only has these special attributes,` but which is also possessed of the usualV attributes of simplicity,`cheapness of manufacture, and reliability.

The details in the construction of a preferred form of my invention, together with other objects attending its production, willbe better understood from the .following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, which is chosen 'for illustrative purposes only, and 4in which, p

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention with certain parts shown only fragmentarily. I

`Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through the front wheel assembly;

Figure 3 isv a diagrammatic viewtaken from the rear of the skate showing particularly the angle at whichthe wheels are mounted;` and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of the A invention. l f

y 5c1ai'ms. [romeni-11125)' .fiThisinvention relates toI skates 'l andi more; parbraces or bracing ribs 9 andv I0. The sole plate` is also provided with an upwardly extendingshoe guard IAI andtanladjustable strap I2 for rmly securing the shoeof a wearer to `that plate.`

Similarly, the heel, plate isprovided with a heel guard I3 and an "adjustable anklestrap I4^ for rmly positioning the rearportion ofythe shoe onthatplate. c, This heel plate is also provided with an upright leg brace I5 whichyinl cludes` a` longitudinally extending strengthening, rib` I6,` a ilared arcuate upper end I'I, and a :legi

strap I8. x= c, n 4

Theifront and rear wheel assemblies are identical inl construction 'soA that it 'will be necessary onlytodescribe one `wheel assemblym Onescomf,l

r,may be' either of the solid rubber type or of` the pneumatic type. rPreferably conicalr roller bearings and vcones are used as shown, although ball bearings maybe used without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. `With this conical bearing mounting, the wheel `hub 2'I is of such diameter as to contact the outer end of thecone `23 without contacting any portion of the bearing or bearing race 2| and without contacting any portion of the bearing block I9. The other end of the axle is fitted with la washer 28 of a l diameter identical to that of the wheel hub 2,1,

which washer isheld snugly `against the cone 22 by a lock nut 29 and cotter pin 30. As previously stated, a different type bearing may be Y used and a different wheel mounting may be used. The rotation of thepwheel 25 on the axle I `is mounted but extends at an angle thereto.

Both the front and rear wheel assembly bearing blocks are preferably rigidly secured to their respective plates, but I wish to point out that an adjustable or pivotal'mounting of either the frontvor rear. wheel bearing blocks would not amount to invention over the preferred embodiment as shown.

The 'front and rear wheel assemblies are mounted on the transverse foot plate 5 inthe manner shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 so thatthe front wheel is on the outside ofthe skate and the rear wheel is on the inside of the skate. This 10 incides with theinormal direction oftravel of the skate. Inforder to diierentiate between the front and rear wheels in the various views I have numbered the front wheel 3l and the rear wheel 25.

although the two wheels are identical in size and l5 shape. v

While I have described and illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, I am" aware that numerous alterations 'and changespma'y, be. made therein and I do not wish to be limitedexeeptby 20 the prior art and by the scope of the appended claimsg.;y j l f claim: l n w l 11. two-wheeled Vrollerfrskate comprising: a lengthwise adjustable transverse foot plate; a frontwheel mounted'. alongithe outside'. `edge of saidifplate; and a rearwheel. mountedalong the inside edge of said L plate, )said wheels .respectively adaptedto` rotatef-in planes which meet each otherfat 'aan acute yangle alongz-` aline directly 39 beneathand parallel tofthe longitudinal axis of sai'dplate. y 1 -f 2. A two-wheeled roller skate lcomprising a sole platand a lheel. plate connected in alignment; a?. front wheel-'mountedf along .the outside edge 'of lsaid sole. plate; and a rear. wheel Amounted along. theinsideV edgei ofj'said: hee'llaplate, said Wheelsrespectively.adapted to'zrotate in planes beneath and parallel to the common longitudinal axes of said sole and heel plates.

3. A two-wheeled roller skate comprising a sole plate and a heel plate connected in alignment; a front wheelmounted along the outside 5 edge of said sole plate; and a rear wheel mounted along the inside edge of said heel plate, said wheels respectively adapted to rotate in planes which meet at an acute angle along a line directly beneath and parallel to thecommon longitudinal axes of saidY sole and heel plates; and. means for securing said plates to the foot of a wearer.

4. A two-wheeled skate comprising: a sole plate; a heel plate connected thereto for lengthwise adjustment; a wheel mounted adjacent the outside edge of said sole plate; another wheel mounted adjacent the inside edge of said heel plate,` the axes of the `two said wheels sloping vdownward and outward in opposite directions from the common longitudinalaxis of the two said plates; and means carried by `each ,of said plates for securing the skate to the foot ofra,v

wearer. f v 5. In a roller skate the` combination of: `a

lengthwise adjustable. transverser vfoot plate; a`

pairY of roller-bearing blocks rigidly mounted on the nether surfaceof said foot. plate, one near tioned on opposite sidesV of said longitudinal axis; 5g 

